[Subhakar]

First-ever Tesla headphones

with Qualcomm® aptX HD audio 

from

beyerdynamic and Astell&Kern 

 
 
http://asia-pacific-india.beyerdynamic.com/press/press-releases/press-detail/article/ifa-highlight-2016-1.html​
 
 

 
 
IFA Highlight 2016
 
Concept study: beyerdynamic and Astell&Kern show high-end headphones with Bluetooth transmission in high-resolution audio quality
 
A Bluetooth headphone that sounds as good as the best wired models? This is what HiFi enthusiasts have been dreaming about for a long time. Now this dream will be tangible – and above all audible – for the first time at IFA 2016: beyerdynamic will present a fully featured concept study in Berlin, which was created in cooperation with Astell&Kern.
The audio specialist from Heilbronn, Germany, and the Korean expert in high-resolution players are thus set to continue their successful cooperation. The uncompromising separation from the cable now follows on from the high-end headphones AK T5p, AK T1p and the in-ear Tesla AK T8iE of last year.
 
First Tesla headphones with Qualcomm® aptXTM HD audio
 
Two world premières at the same time add up to optimum sound quality. Firstly there's the exclusive transducer technology: the wireless headphone is the very first Bluetooth model to use Tesla drivers from beyerdynamic. The delicate voice coils respond especially quickly and can convert high- resolution audio signals faithfully into sound waves. Their high level of efficiency conserves the battery of the wireless headphone at the same time, without sacrificing precision dynamics and volume.
 
The second innovation resolves a basic weakness of the Bluetooth standard: even with high-quality audio codecs, only CD quality could be transmitted at best to date. The superior sound of high-resolution audio files fell by the wayside. This restriction now no longer applies with the new aptX HD codec from Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd. It transmits the full resolution of 24-bit signals. The greater dynamic range and lower background noise make even the smallest details in sound audible.
beyerdynamic is one of the first manufacturers to integrate aptX HD in an over-ear headphone. The playback device is a modified variant of the Astell&Kern AK 380, which already supports this new transmission protocol. 



 



Other players from the high-resolution specialist will follow gradually. But even top-of-the-range Android smartphones are potential music sources. There are no changes when it comes to the actual connection setup. Both devices are paired via Bluetooth as usual. The enhanced sound tunes in automatically as soon as transmitter and receiver are equipped with
aptX HD.
 
 
Innovative handling with touch gestures
 
Wireless transmission is not the only innovative feature however. Together with the cable, the engineers have also broken some old habits in terms of handling. Thus there are no buttons any more. Playback is controlled instead by a sensor surface on the headphone housing: swiping downwards reduces the volume while swiping upwards increases it. And as the user moves a finger forward or back on the housing shell, the player skips to the beginning of the required title – in exactly the same way as with a touchpad on the computer. Even if the acoustic tuning is not yet quite ready, the intuitive handling already lures the user to explore the potential of the wireless miracle of sound.
IFA in Berlin provides ample opportunity to do just this. Listen out for the concept study at beyerdynamic's booth (Hall 1.2, Stand 204) from 2 to 7 September 2016. 
 
 

 

[BLacklWf]

Exciting!!

 

[Sonic Defender]

I have said for a while now that in the not to distant future we will not have wires even for flagship headphones designed for critical home based listening and this seems to show there is indeed movement in this direction. Still a great deal of innovation and technology needed to really get us there, but I have no doubt that within 5 years almost everybody will at least have a reason to go wireless. Thanks for the link! Cheers.

 

[Subhakar]

  I have said for a while now that in the not to distant future we will not have wires even for flagship headphones designed for critical home based listening and this seems to show there is indeed movement in this direction. Still a great deal of innovation and technology needed to really get us there, but I have no doubt that within 5 years almost everybody will at least have a reason to go wireless. Thanks for the link! Cheers.

5 years?!
2 or 3, at most, for sure.

 

[akg fanboy]

The lg g5 is the only phone at the moment with aptx HD, anyone who wants to buy these this year and doesn't want to shell out a couple grand for an ak380 should probably use an lg g5 to take advantage of the aptx HD codec.

 

[Sonic Defender]

 
5 years?!
2 or 3, at most, for sure.

I'm talking flagship level headphones. I'm not sure how quickly companies will embrace wireless in such products, but I hope you're right, I really do. I just think that it takes a while to overcome bias and skepticism which may slow down many companies more than it should. There are still many members here that think that Apt X isn't capable of delivering high quality sound. I find, coincidentally perhaps, often those are the deep pocket members who buy TOTL headphones and they will be the hardest group to change behavior within.

 

[Subhakar]

I'm talking flagship level headphones. I'm not sure how quickly companies will embrace wireless in such products, but I hope you're right, I really do. I just think that it takes a while to overcome bias and skepticism which may slow down many companies more than it should. There are still many members here that think that Apt X isn't capable of delivering high quality sound. I find, coincidentally perhaps, often those are the deep pocket members who buy TOTL headphones and they will be the hardest group to change behavior within.

All the work that is required is at the chip end - QualComm and such. Integration at headphone end will be easy enough and conversion fast enough when the aptX HD codec proves to be too wide a river to be ignored when compared to physical wire. You don't measure the tap's radius when the whole water tank breaks loose. Yes, let's hope, 3 years. A big enough codec can erase a whole industry of phycalities. No more snake oil. No more heat dissipation. No more weakest links in any chain. No more multiple industry (double) standard pins.

 

[Sonic Defender]

All the work that is required is at the chip end - QualComm and such. Integration at headphone end will be easy enough and conversion fast enough when the aptX HD codec proves to be too wide a river to be ignored when compared to physical wire. You don't measure the tap's radius when the whole water tank breaks loose. Yes, let's hope, 3 years. A big enough codec can erase a whole industry of phycalities. No more snake oil. No more heat dissipation. No more weakest links in any chain. No more multiple industry (double) standard pins.

Amplification and DAC functions are actually more where I see the problem. If I wanted to make a TOTL planar headphone wireless, I need plenty of power to cover all possible user scenarios. Some people like rather high playback volume (I like high volume) so when I want to listen to older, quieter material, I have never had enough power with BT headphones, and that is with dynamic, easy to drive headphones. What about trying to drive an HE6 with an embedded amplifier? What about the battery technology to feed power hungry amps and DACs? As you go up the foodchain of headphones, expectations rise in tandem. In my mind the headphone can't get much bigger, so where would larger amplifier, battery and DAC sections go? The cups can't just grow as the chamber space is part of the tuning so it isn't as simple as fill the cups up with electronics.
 
I know there are solutions, and new innovations and technologies to come, but I do think for reference level, TOTL headphones, it will take some work to really deliver full wireless solutions.

 

[Subhakar]

Amplification and DAC functions are actually more where I see the problem. If I wanted to make a TOTL planar headphone wireless, I need plenty of power to cover all possible user scenarios. Some people like rather high playback volume (I like high volume) so when I want to listen to older, quieter material, I have never had enough power with BT headphones, and that is with dynamic, easy to drive headphones. What about trying to drive an HE6 with an embedded amplifier? What about the battery technology to feed power hungry amps and DACs? As you go up the foodchain of headphones, expectations rise in tandem. In my mind the headphone can't get much bigger, so where would larger amplifier, battery and DAC sections go? The cups can't just grow as the chamber space is part of the tuning so it isn't as simple as fill the cups up with electronics.

I know there are solutions, and new innovations and technologies to come, but I do think for reference level, TOTL headphones, it will take some work to really deliver full wireless solutions.

Amen.

 

[Denon2010]

The death of wired headphones is around the corner, soon there will be no excuse not to go bluetooth. But whats truly going to push this now is iphone doing away with 3.5mm
 
Yes there will always be wired just like there will always be vinyl records. But its only the old farts who will be clinging onto it just like some people are gullible enough to pay $300 for moon audio silver dragon cables which sound just like any decent cheap cable. And mainly go on placebo. It is well known that companies make a fortune off the stupidity of audiophiles. People who buy $300 and $400 headphone cables are as stupid as those who buy beats headphones with fake diamonds and gold color to justify spending $300 for "fashion" its the same thing really both being conned for their own stupidity.
 
I for one am waiting for Bluetooth 5.0 and for Apple to force the next generation of wireless headphones for far too long sennheiser has shy away from investing into the bluetooth market their RS headphones feel cheap the earpads are like a joke there are no HD 800 bluetooth headphones etc.
 
All of that is going to change soon. Wireless headphones are going to become like cellphones people where people don't want to have any part of wired phones in their home.

 

[akg fanboy]

The death of wired headphones is around the corner, soon there will be no excuse not to go bluetooth. But whats truly going to push this now is iphone doing away with 3.5mm

Yes there will always be wired just like there will always be vinyl records. But its only the old farts who will be clinging onto it just like some people are gullible enough to pay $300 for moon audio silver dragon cables which sound just like any decent cheap cable. And mainly go on placebo. It is well known that companies make a fortune off the stupidity of audiophiles. People who buy $300 and $400 headphone cables are as stupid as those who buy beats headphones with fake diamonds and gold color to justify spending $300 for "fashion" its the same thing really both being conned for their own stupidity.

I for one am waiting for Bluetooth 5.0 and for Apple to force the next generation of wireless headphones for far too long sennheiser has shy away from investing into the bluetooth market their RS headphones feel cheap the earpads are like a joke there are no HD 800 bluetooth headphones etc.

All of that is going to change soon. Wireless headphones are going to become like cellphones people where people don't want to have any part of wired phones in their home.

Why stop at wireless? How about no headphones, just brain simulated audio signals that we perceive as music. This is the most portable solution

 

[Sonic Defender]

   
 
All of that is going to change soon. Wireless headphones are going to become like cellphones people where people don't want to have any part of wired phones in their home.

I'm totally ready. I embraced BT and I know that even as it stands today, basic Apt X codec it is still very good and only going to get better.

 

[Denon2010]

  I'm totally ready. I embraced BT and I know that even as it stands today, basic Apt X codec it is still very good and only going to get better.

Can you tell me if there is any noticeable difference between SBC and APTX?

 

[obsidyen]

I'm definitely interested! Apparantly the new Macbook Pro may not have a headphone jack either. This headphone would be a great companion to it.

 

[Subhakar]

Now Monoprice is introducing el cheapo tube DAC/Amp/Preamp/BluetoothAptX along with $200-$300 planar headphones...
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/820107/monoprice-monolith-m1060-and-m560-planar-headphones/75
http://www.monoprice.com/mobile/product/description/16154?maincategoryid=120&categoryid=12008&subcategoryid=1200801
 
 

106mm drivers!!!